Plectrum auxiliary device for string musical instruments

ABSTRACT

A plectrum holding device for playing the guitar and the like string musical instruments, comprising an elongated body member ( 12 ), a butt-like rear member ( 14 ) mounted to one end of the body member ( 12 ) and configured to rest against the thumb root of the player, a trigger-like front member ( 16 ) mounted to the other end of the body member ( 12 ) and configured to be gripped by a forefinger phalanxankle of the player; and a mounting ( 18 ) for plectrum ( 20 ) in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of rear and front members ( 14; 16 ) within reach of the player&#39;s thumb on one side and the tip of the player&#39;s forefinger on the other side of the plectrum mounting ( 18 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to musical instruments andparticularly to means for playing string instruments such as guitar.More specifically the invention concerns an auxiliary device for holdingplectrums by which the string instruments are played.

As a rule, plectrums are held by the player between the forefinger andthe thumb and so plucked against the strings to produce the sound. Thistraditional arrangement has not been changed for centuries in spite ofvarious improvements and modifications of the playing instrumentsproper, for example, the so-called “electric” guitar and its variations.

The object of the invention is to improve and make more efficient andconvenient the very holding of the plectrum, thereby achieving moreaccuracy and less fatigue to the player.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary tool orholder to be conveniently gripped by the player, guided by humanengineering considerations, for assuring safe grip and adaptation tovarious sizes of the player's palm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus provided according to the present invention is a plectrum holdingdevice for playing the guitar and the like string musical instruments,comprising an alongated body member; a butt-like rear member mounted toone end of the body member and configured to rest against the thumb rootof the player; a trigger-like front member mounted to the other end ofthe body member and configured to be gripped by a forefinger phalanx ofthe player; and means for mounting a plectrum to the body member in aplane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear and frontmembers within reach of the player's thumb at one side and the tip ofthe player's forefinger at the other side of said plectrum mountingmeans.

Preferably, the device comprises means for varying the distance betweenthe rear and the front members, as well as their relative angularpositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and additional constructional features and advantages of theinvention will become more clearly apprehended in the light of thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way ofexample only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the plectrum holder featuringthe characteristics of the present invention;

FIG. 1A is a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is one side-view of the holder of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is an opposite side-view of the holder of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3 is a top-view of the holder of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is section taken along line 6—6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the mode of use of a plectrum holder of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen in FIG. 1, the plectrum holder generally denoted 10 comprises acentral elongated body portion generally denoted 12 having a rectangularcross section with a top surface and side surfaces; a rear, butt-likerest generally denoted 14; a front, trigger-like finger grip portion 16;a plectrum mounting unit denoted 18; plectrum 20; and an optionalswitching attachment denoted 22 for controlling remote electronic orsound systems such as “MIDI” devices or “Guitar effects”.

As will be explained in more detail below, the butt-like portion 14 isswivable in all directions, as well as extractable from and withdrawninto the body portion 12 using adjusting lever 24, the plectrum clampingunit 18 is also swivable, so that the holder 10, as a whole, is readilyadjustable to any individual requirement of the user.

As further seen in FIG. 5, the body portion 12 is provided with blindbore 30 into which freely fits an insert 32 constantly pushed away bycoil spring 34. The insert 32 has a series of notches 36 whereas theadjusting lever 24, pivotable about pin 38 and biased by spring 40, isprovided with detent 42 which, in the position shown, fits into thefirst of the notches 36. In this position therefore the insert 32 is inits extreme withdrawn position, namely the length of the holder 10 as awhole is minimum. It will be thus readily understood that by operatingthe lever 24 and allowing the insert 32 to become extracted from thebore 30, the length of the holder 10 can be gradually increased;

The rear member 14 is coupled to the body 12 intermediate aball-and-socket joint arrangement, comprising a spherical male portion44, nested within a slotted springy seat member 46.

The member 46 comprises an extension 48, screw-thread received by bore50 Mating wedge surfaces 52 enable the tightening of the seat 46 overthe spherical male portion 44 at any desired angular position of therear member 14.

The plectrum clamping device 18, extending sidewise from the front sideof the body 12, comprises a tweezer-like holder (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 6)having two spaced parallel jaws 60 a and 60 b between which the plectrum20 can be inserted and filmy fastened by a stud-screw 62, using screwdriver slot 62 a.

The jaws element 60 is extended by a spherical projection 64 springlyreceived within slotted joint member 66 similar to the arrangementregarding the mounting of the rear side body portion 14. Hence, conicalwedge cam surface 68 is used to firmly fasten the spherical projection64 within the joint 66 by tightening knob 70 at the other side of thebody 12. Thus, the plectrum is readily swivable in al directions withinthe seat of the sphere 64,

The plectrum proper is easily replacable by slackening the stud screw 62and refastening it with a replacement plectrum 20.

Finally, the electronic switching unit 22 with operating buttons 22 a,22 b, etc., is attached to the portion 14 in any suitable manner such asprofiled ribs 80 and 81 matching into counter-slots 80 a and 81 a asclearly seen in FIG. 1A.

The manner by which the plectrum holder 10 is used is clearlyillustrated in FIG. 7, namely that th;.auxiliary device is gripped bythe player's hand so that the rear portion 14 rests against the root ofthe thumb of the user, while the tip of the thumb presses from above ontop of the plectrum mounting element 60, whereas the forefinger iscrooked so that the second phalanx grips the portion 16 while the fingertip reaches from below against the lower side of the mounting 60. Thusachieved is the safe and secure gripping of the holder 10 with theplectrum 20, without interfering with the normal playing routine in theconventional manner.

The electronic switching attachment 22 is accessable by the tips of theother fingers of the user to operate push button switches 22 a, 22 b,etc., to control the desirable musical effects.

While the above description contains many specificities, these shouldnot be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, butrather as exemplification of the, preferred embodiments. Those skilledin the art will envision other possible variations that are within itsscope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined notby the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and theirlegal equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A plectrum holding device for playing guitar andstring musical instruments, comprising: an elongated body member havinga top surface and side surfaces; a butt-like rear member mounted to oneend of the body member and configured to rest against the thumb root ofthe player; a trigger-like front member mounted to an other end of thebody member and configured to be gripped by a forefinger phalanxankle ofthe player; and means for mounting a plectrum to the body member in aplane substantially perpendicular to one of the side surfaces of thebody member.
 2. The device of claim 1 further comprising means forvarying the distance between the rear and the front members.
 3. Thedevice of claim 1 further comprising means for varying the angularposition of the rear member relative to the axis of the body member. 4.The device of claim 1 further comprising means for varying the angularposition of the plectrum mounting means relative to the longitudinalaxis of the body member.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein the distancevarying means comprise a step-wise elongating device.
 6. The device ofclaim 5 wherein the step-wise elongating device comprises an insertseated within a bore formed in the body member, a series of notches inthe insert, and an externally accessible, spring-urged lever with adetent configured to penetrate one of the series of notches.
 7. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein the means for varying the angular position ofthe rear member comprise a ball-and-socket coupling, with selectivelyoperable tightening means.
 8. The device of claim 2 wherein the meansfor varying the angular position of the front member comprise aball-and-socket coupling, with selectively operable tightening means. 9.The device of claim 1 wherein the plectrum mounting means comprise apair of opposite jaws between which a standard plectrum is insertable,and means for tightening the plectrum therebetween.
 10. The device ofclaim 1 further comprising an electric switching device mounted to therear member accessible for operation by the tips of the other of theplayer's fingers.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the switchingdevice is detachable from the rear member.